Part 25 (1/2)

GAME 7. RUY LOPEZ

(San Sebastian, 1911)

White: J. R. Capablanca. Black: A. Burn

1. P - K 4 P - K 4 2. Kt - K B 3 Kt - Q B 3 3. B - Kt 5 P - Q R 3 4. B - R 4 Kt - B 3 5. P - Q 3

This is a very solid development, to which I was much addicted at the time, because of my ignorance of the multiple variations of the openings.

5. ........ P - Q 3 6. P - B 3 B - K 2

In this variation there is the alternative of developing this Bishop via Kt 2, after P - K Kt 3.

7. Q Kt - Q 2 O - O 8. Kt - B 1 P - Q Kt 4 9. B - B 2 P - Q 4 10. Q - K 2 P P 11. P P B - Q B 4

Evidently to make room for the Queen at K 2, but I do not think the move advisable at this stage. B - K 3 is a more natural and effective move. It develops a piece and threatens B - B 5, which would have to be stopped.

12. B - Kt 5 B - K 3

{198} Now it is not so effective, because White's Q B is out, and the Knight, in going to K 3 to defend the square Q B 4, does not block the Q B.

13. Kt - K 3 R - K 1 14. O - O Q - K 2

This is bad. Black's game was already not good. He probably had no choice but to take the Knight with the Bishop before making this move.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

15. Kt - Q 5 B Kt 16. P B Kt - Kt 1

in order to bring it to Q 2, to support the other Knight and also his King's p.a.w.n. White, however, does not allow time for this, and by taking advantage of his superior position is able to win a p.a.w.n.

17. P - Q R 4 P - Kt 5

Since he had no way to prevent the loss of a p.a.w.n, he should have given it up where it is, and played Q Kt - Q 2, in order to make his position more solid. {199} The text move not only loses a p.a.w.n, but leaves Black's game very much weakened.

18. P P B P 19. B Kt Q B 20. Q - K 4 B - Q 3 21. Q P ch K - B 1

[Ill.u.s.tration]

With a p.a.w.n more and all his pieces ready for action, while Black is still backward in development, it only remains for White to drive home his advantage before Black can come out with his pieces, in which case, by using the open K R file, Black might be able to start a strong attack against White's King. White is able by his next move to eliminate all danger.

22. Kt - R 4 Q - R 3

This is practically forced. Black could not play P - Kt 3 because of B P, and White meanwhile threatened Q - R 8 ch followed by Kt - B 5 ch and Q P. {200}

23. Q Q P Q 24. Kt - B 5 P - K R 4 25. B - Q 1 Kt - Q 2 26. B P Kt - B 3 27. B - K 2 Kt P 28. K R - Q 1 Kt - B 5 29. B - B 4 K R - Q 1 30. P - R 4 P - R 4

Black must lose time a.s.suring the safety of this p.a.w.n.